117 of the 574 complaints about the 1997 Chevrolet S10 are about the braking system — 20% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 94,000 miles.
117
Complaints
15
Crashes
0
Fires
5
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES
WHEN SLOWING DOWN TO ENTER THE GARAGE, THE ENGINE ACCELERATES WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES. LETTING OFF OF THE BRAKES AND REAPPLYING THEM AND PUSHING HARDER HAS EASED THE ISSUE SOMEWHAT. IT DOES THIS VERY FREQUENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #10652170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
OCCASIONALLY ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES AND COUNTING WHEN INITIALLY APPLYING THE BRAKE AT EITHER 45MPH OR 10 MPH MY 1997 CHEVY S10 VEHICLE STARTS TO ACCELERATE WITH MY FOOT OFF THE GAS AND CRUISE CONTROL OFF AT WHAT APPEARED TO BE FULL SPEED/THROTTLE. MY FIRST REACTION WAS TO BRAKE EVEN HARDER, BUT THEN THE ANTILOCK BRAKES KICKED IN AND SEEMED TO REDUCE THE STOPPING FORCE BY NOT LETTING THE WHEELS LOCK. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL I PLACED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND THEN THE VEHICLE STOPPED AND ALSO STOPPED ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #10641808 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES
SEVERELY CORRODED BRAKE LINES, LINES BLEW. NEAR MISS ACCIDENT. THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT ACROSS MFRS. . WELL MAINTAINED CARS WITH SEVERELY CORRODED FUEL AND BRAKE LINES. I BET IT CAN BE TRACED TO A CHEAP SUPPLIER THAT SUPPLIED THE BIG 3 FOR A PERIOD OF YEARS. NO CORROSION RESISTANCE ON THE STEEL. CAN'T BLAME THIS ON NE WINTER SALT. MY OEM 1964 LOOKS BETTER THAN MY LATE MODEL VEHICLES.
NHTSA complaint #10629435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
I HAVE READ OF A SAFTEY RECALL ON THIS VEHICAL WITH THE EXACT DESCRIPTION OF WHAT HAPPENED TO ME, I SHOULD HAVE HAD PLENTY OF DISTANCE TO STOP, IT'S ONLY A SMALL PICK UP, I KNOW FOR CERTIAN I HAVE A FULLY LOADED WORK TRUCK A FORD 3/4 TON ECONOLINE VAN AND I KNOW I COULD HAVE STOPPED THAT VEHICLE IN TIME. I WAS STANDING ON THE BRAKES, THEY JUST WOULDNT DO ANYTHING , IN AN EMERGENCY THEY JUST DON'T CUT THE MUSTARD. I HAD EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE, AND MY NEEK HAS BEEN NOT FEELING GOOD EVER SINCE. MY FATHER IN LAW GAVE THIS TRUCK TO MY WIFE HEN HE WAS NO LONGER ABLE TO DRIVE, AND IT WAS TOLD TO ME HE HAD THE TRUCK INTO THE SHOP REPEATEDLY FOR THE SAME THING SINCE IT WAS NEW. SEEMS TO ME GM SHOULD MAKE IT RIGHT AND THE BODY COLLISION, BEINGS THEY HAVE KNOWN ABOUT IT AND HAVENT DONE SQUAT, AND PAY FOR MY PAIN AND MEDICAL.
NHTSA complaint #10499787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET S10 PICKUP. WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10 MPH AND APPROACHING A STOP SIGN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE BRAKE FLUID ABNORMALLY LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE. HE WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO HIS RESIDENCE AND THEN TO A LOCAL INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC FOUND THE BRAKES LINES WERE CORRODED. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED AND THE BRAKES WERE BLED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V146001 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC: FOUNDATION COMPONENTS: HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS) TO BE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE FAILURE BUT WAS UNABLE TO CONFIRM IF HIS VIN WAS INCLUDED WITH THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 93,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 101,000. UPDATED 06/21/10 *BF UPDATED 06/24/10.
NHTSA complaint #10327728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THERE ARE 8 SAFETY RECALLS ON THE CHEVY S10.1997.THE COMPANYS STATE MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST OF THESE RECALLS.BUT MY VEHICLES HAS ALL OF THESE DEFECTS.AND IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THESE ISSUES.IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY.BUT PEOPLES LUCK ALWAYS RUNS OUT.I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ITS BREAKING ME FINANCIALLY BY FIXING THIS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10323395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRIC
THERE ARE 8 SAFETY RECALLS ON THE CHEVY S10.1997.THE COMPANYS STATE MY VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE LIST OF THESE RECALLS.BUT MY VEHICLES HAS ALL OF THESE DEFECTS.AND IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY I HAVE NOT BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT YET DUE TO THESE ISSUES.IVE BEEN VERY LUCKY.BUT PEOPLES LUCK ALWAYS RUNS OUT.I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE AND ITS BREAKING ME FINANCIALLY BY FIXING THIS ONE.
NHTSA complaint #10323395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 1997 CHEVY S-10 BURST LEADING TO TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING CAPABILITY ...LUCKILY THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT ... AN EMERGENCY REPAIR AT A NEARBY STATION COST ME $800 ... THEY REPLACED ONLY ONE SIDE OF BRAKING SYSTEM (THE SIDE THAT BURST) ... I TRIED TO CONTACT CHEVY TO GET THEM TO REPAIR THE OTHER SIDE (THAT WILL LIKELY BURST) AND THEY SAID "NO" - NOT COVERED.
NHTSA complaint #10311813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED, CAR STARTED TO ROLL DOWN HILL, ONLY WAY TO STOP WAS TO ENGAGE THE PARKIG BRAKE. CAUSE WAS BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10179083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
BRAKES: THE FRONT BRAKES WILL LOCK UP AT SLOW SPEEDS, PARTICULARLY IF THE VEHICLE HAS SET IDLE FOR A FEW DAYS. THIS HAS BEEN A CONTINUOUS PROBLEM FOR THE LAST 4 YEARS. ADDITIONALLY, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES WILL SOMETIMES ENGAGE, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO CONTINUE, WITH NO MEANS OF STOPPING.
NHTSA complaint #10144424 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V379000 CONCERNING ANTI LOCKBRAKES. THIS VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VI AND THE YEAR, AND MODEL. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AT THIS TIME.
NHTSA complaint #10143665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
BRAKING FOR DEER AT NIGHT EXPERIENCING TOTAL MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE, IE, BRAKE PETAL GOING DOWN TO FLOOR BOARD AFTER INITIAL SMALL RESISTANCE. AFTER AVOIDING DEER THE BRAKE PETAL WOULD GO TO FLOOR WITH NO RESISTANCE. NO BRAKE FLUID LOSS. RESERVOIR FULL
NHTSA complaint #10129578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE CONSUMER COULD HEARD A SQUEAKING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE DEALER EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED NEW BRAKE PADS, ROTORS AND CALIPERS.
NHTSA complaint #10080300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN APPLIED THE BRAKES ON NORMAL CONDITIONS. VEHICLE WILL TAKE LONGER TO STOP, MAKING UNSAFE TO DRIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10065537 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST
AIR BAG LIGHT CONTINUOUSLY ILLUMINATED ON THE DASHBOARD. ALSO, ENGINE STALLED, AND THERE WERE NO POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING. IT WAS AN A ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10065032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
THE VEHICLE WAS LETTING OFF EXHAUST FUMES INTO THE VEHICLE, WHICH PUT THE DRIVER AND THE PASSENGER TO SLEEP. THE DRIVER WAS AWAKENED BY A POLICE SIREN. THE CONSUMER SUFFERED CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. THE BRAKES FAILED TO PERFORM AS DESIGNED WHEN THEY WERE APPLIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED SHE SUFFERED MUSCLE AND NERVE DAMAGE DUE TO CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING.
NHTSA complaint #10056010 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
TOOK MY 1997 S10 PICKUP TO A MECHANIC AND REQUESTED HE CHECK THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL FAULTS WHEN CONTINUEING TO APPLY PRESSURE AND BEGINS TO MAKE A BOUNCING TYPE OF FEELING AND THE DISTANCE TO STOP (ESPECIALLY ON WET ROADS) CANNOT BE DETERMINED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ABS WERE FAULTY AND TO CONTACT A DEALER AND HAVE THE VIN RESEARCHED FOR RECALLS, ETC. ALSO REFERRED ME TO NHTSA.
NHTSA complaint #10038924 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKES FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #10019461 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:INTERCONNECTING ASSEMBLY(WIRING)
ABS LOCKED UP CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND NEITHER AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. PH
NHTSA complaint #10005944 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CONSUMER STATED THE BUILT-IN WEAR INDICATORS NEVER MADE A HIGH-PITCHED WARNING SOUND TO INDICATE BRAKE FAILURE. HOWEVER, THERE WAS A LOUD GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WAS ALSO HEARD WHEN COMING TO A STOP. ROTORS, DISC, WHEEL CYLINDER AND BRAKE PADS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TT
NHTSA complaint #10001927 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SEEMS AS IF WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, THE BAKES LOCK UP OR DO NOT CATCH. CAR-X SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. THE ABS LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THE MALFUNCTION IS. THIS PROBLEM ALMOST COST ME TO CRASH A COUPLE OF TIMES WHEN PARKING IN A PARKING LOT AND MY BRAKES DO WORK CORRECTLY. ANY HELP ON THIS MATTER WILL BE GREATLY APPRECTIATED. THANKS.
NHTSA complaint #765211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT 25,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #564609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
VEHICLE WILL NOT STOP EVERY TIME IF ROLLING SLOW. SAY IN TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #761223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES AT 25,000 MILES.
NHTSA complaint #564609 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS AND LESS THAN 77,000 MILES, THIS P/U EXPERIENCED A FAILURE IN THE DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE BRAKE BOOSTER UNIT. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS VEHICLES FOR 10 OR MORE YEARS, BOTH DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN, HOWEVER, THIS IS THE FIRST CHEVY. IT IS ALSO THE FIRST, OUT OF SEVEN(7) TO HAVE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE, PERIOD, MUCH LESS THIS EARLY. HAVE THERE BEEN OTHER REPORTS OF SIMILAR FAILURES IN THE 1997 S-10 SERIES? IF NOT, CAN A SURVEY BE RUN TO CHECK?
NHTSA complaint #751488 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS AN APPROXIMATE NUMBER BECAUSE THE BRAKES HAVE GIVEN ME PROBLEMS FROM THE DAY AFTER I BROUGHT THE TRUCK HOME UNTIL THE DAY MY HUSBAND WRECKED. THE APPROXIMATE DOLLAR AMOUNT OF DAMAGE IS YET TO BE DETERMINED, HOWEVER BOTH VEHICLES IN THE ACCIDENT WILL PROBABLY BE TOTALED. I HAD THE TRUCK IN THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AND WAS ALWAYS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY BRAKES. ONCE THEY REBUILT MY MASTER CYLINDER JUST TO SAISFY ME, ALTHOUGH IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #749463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP, THERE WAS A SQUISHY NOISE, AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE.*AK BRAKE BOOSTER CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH APPLIED BRAKES, HAD TO PUSH REALLY HARD TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP, THERE WAS A SQUISHY NOISE, AND EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCE.*AK BRAKE BOOSTER CAUSING NOISE, DEALER REPLACED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #891804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN BRAKING QUICKLY OR A COMPLETE STOP ANT LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM DOESN'T KICK IN. PEDAL GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR, AND THERE IS NO BRAKING. BRAKES GRAB A LITTLE WITH PULSATING. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #891257 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHEN BRAKES WERE PRESSED VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY TURNED LEFT. DEALER HAD ADVISED CONSUMERTHAT PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A RUST PROBLEM WHICH WERE NATURAL CAUSES, AND WOULD DISAPPEAR IN A COUPLE OF DAYS. DEFECT WAS STILL PRESISTED, AND CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE HE DID NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OF VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #881471 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.